The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has released the tentative vacant seat matrix for 2026 on its official website, csab.nic.in. As per the matrix uploaded on July 28, 2026, a total of 15,423 seats remain vacant across 119 participating institutes after the completion of all Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) 2026 counselling rounds. These seats are now open for admission through the CSAB Special Rounds.
Key Highlights of CSAB Vacant Seats 2026
- Total vacant seats: 15,423 across 119 institutes
- NITs (31 institutes): 4,611 vacant seats
- IIITs (27 institutes): 3,628 vacant seats
- Government-Funded Technical Institutes or GFTIs (60 institutes): 6,945 vacant seats
- IIEST Shibpur: 239 vacant seats
- Vacant seat matrix released: July 28, 2026, on csab.nic.in
Of the total vacancies, 13,156 seats fall under the gender-neutral category, open to candidates of any gender, while 2,267 seats are reserved under the female-only category. Computer Science and Engineering, one of the most sought-after branches, alone accounts for 3,098 vacant seats across the participating institutes, including 503 in NITs, 1,173 in IIITs, 1,405 in GFTIs, and 17 at IIEST Shibpur.
Who Can Apply for CSAB Special Rounds 2026
- Candidates with a valid JEE Main 2026 rank who were eligible for the NIT+ system in JoSAA
- Candidates who did not secure a seat through JoSAA 2026
- Candidates already holding a JoSAA-allotted seat who wish to try for a better option
- Only Indian nationals and OCI/PIO cardholders are eligible for CSAB seat allocation
Candidates must note that CSAB requires a completely fresh registration and a new choice list on csab.nic.in. Previous JoSAA registration, choices, and preferences do not carry forward into the CSAB Special Rounds.
How to Check the CSAB 2026 Vacant Seat Matrix
- Visit the official CSAB website at csab.nic.in
- Open the CSAB Special 2026 counselling portal
- Click on the 'Seat Matrix' link on the homepage
- Download the PDF containing the institute-wise and branch-wise vacant seats
- Check the seats applicable to your category, quota, and gender pool before finalising your choices
The presence of a vacancy does not guarantee admission at a particular JEE Main rank.— Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) Advisory
CSAB Special Rounds 2026 Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Vacant seat matrix released | July 28, 2026 |
| CSAB registration, fee payment, and choice filling begins | July 28, 2026 |
| Mock seat allotment | July 31, 2026 |
| Registration window closes | August 3, 2026 |
| Choice filling and locking closes | August 5, 2026 |
| CSAB Round 1 seat allotment result | August 6, 2026 |
The CSAB seat matrix is prepared dynamically after the conclusion of all JoSAA rounds by combining seats left vacant due to non-reporting, withdrawals, or unallotted slots, along with seats surrendered by candidates during transition windows. Vacant reserved-category seats that find no eligible takers are converted back to the general or open category as per government rules, and the entire matrix is recalculated across state-wise and gender-neutral or female-only pools before being published.
Impact on Students
For candidates who did not secure a seat through JoSAA, or who are unhappy with their allotted branch or institute, the CSAB Special Rounds represent a genuine second opportunity within the NIT+ system. However, candidates already holding a JoSAA seat should carefully understand the seat-withdrawal rules before registering for CSAB, since accepting a CSAB seat can permanently release their earlier JoSAA seat with no way to reclaim it.
Expert Insight: Reading the Vacant Seat Matrix Correctly
Counselling experts caution candidates against assuming that a high number of vacant seats automatically means an easier cutoff. Vacancies are often concentrated in specific branches, home-state quotas, or less-preferred campuses, while popular branches such as Computer Science continue to see limited seats and competitive closing ranks even during the special rounds. Candidates should study the exact institute, branch, category, and quota combination applicable to them in the official matrix, rather than reacting only to the overall vacancy figure, before finalising their CSAB choice list.
Conclusion
With 15,423 seats vacant across NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and IIEST Shibpur after JoSAA 2026, candidates eligible for the CSAB Special Rounds should download the vacant seat matrix from csab.nic.in, complete fresh registration before the deadline, and prepare a well-researched choice list, since Round 1 seat allotment is scheduled for August 6, 2026.
Official Resources
- CSAB Official Website
- JoSAA Official Website
- JEE Main (NTA) Official Website
- AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education)
- Ministry of Education, Government of India